Finding Mental Health Support in College
A Practical Guide for San Diego Students
College can be one of the most formative periods of adult life. It can also be one of the most destabilizing.
Students may be managing academic pressure, financial concerns, relationships, family expectations, identity development, work, housing, and uncertainty about the future. Transferring schools, moving away from home, beginning graduate education, or preparing to graduate can add another layer of change.
Mental health support is available, but knowing where to begin is not always straightforward. Campus counseling, off-campus therapy, psychological testing, support groups, and crisis resources each serve different purposes.
Start With Your Campus Resources
A college or university counseling center is often a good first point of contact. Campus clinicians understand the academic environment and can help students evaluate what level of support may be appropriate.
Campus services may include:
Brief individual counseling
Group therapy and workshops
Crisis support
Psychiatric consultation
Informal consultations
Referrals to community providers
Help navigating insurance or longer-term care
Students do not need to wait until they are in crisis. Counseling centers routinely assist with anxiety, depression, academic stress, relationships, loneliness, grief, identity, family concerns, and adjustment to college life.
Accessing Care at San Diego Universities
UC San Diego
UC San Diego Counseling and Psychological Services provides confidential counseling, psychiatry, groups, crisis support, and referral assistance to registered students.
Students can call 858-534-3755 to schedule a brief telephone assessment. A counselor will discuss the concern and recommend appropriate campus or community resources.
Students who need specialized, ongoing, or longer-term treatment may be connected with an outside provider through UC San Diego CAPS Referral Services.
Students enrolled in UC SHIP generally need a CAPS referral before using off-campus mental health benefits. The referral letter is placed in MyStudentChart and includes authorization information and potential providers. Students should monitor the expiration date and request a renewal before the referral ends to avoid interruptions in care.
San Diego State University
SDSU Counseling & Psychological Services offers short-term individual counseling, groups, workshops, consultation, and assistance locating additional resources.
Students can call 619-594-5220 and request a brief consultation with a therapist. The therapist will review the student’s concerns and help identify appropriate on-campus or off-campus options.
SDSU’s student resource toolkit also includes information about counseling, healthcare navigation, basic needs, and community support.
When a student’s needs call for longer-term or more specialized treatment, Counseling & Psychological Services can provide referrals to community providers.
University of San Diego
The USD Counseling Center provides free, confidential counseling for enrolled students.
Students can schedule through the MyWellness Portal or call 619-260-4655. The center offers individual counseling, groups, psychological consultation, limited psychiatric support, and community referrals.
Students who need specialized or longer-term treatment may be referred to a community provider. The Counseling Center maintains referral options that include private, public, low-cost, and sliding-scale services. Additional information is available through USD’s Counseling Center services page.
USD students also have access to TimelyCare for virtual mental health support, including scheduled counseling and 24-hour TalkNow services.
Point Loma Nazarene University
The PLNU Counseling Center uses a stepped-care model to help students identify an appropriate level of support.
Students may be referred off campus when they need ongoing treatment, more frequent care, specialized services, substance-use treatment, psychological evaluation, or support beyond the scope of campus counseling.
When an off-campus referral is appropriate, the Counseling Center can help students consider provider options, insurance benefits, transportation, telehealth, and lower-cost services. PLNU also maintains a list of community counseling resources.
National University
National University Student Wellness assists students with mental health concerns, life challenges, and connections to university and community resources.
Current students may also access TimelyCare, including scheduled counseling and 24-hour TalkNow support. Student Wellness can help students identify additional options when ongoing or specialized community care is needed.
Other UC, CSU, Community College, and University Students
Students attending Cal State San Marcos, San Diego City College, Mesa College, Miramar College, Grossmont College, Cuyamaca College, Southwestern College, Palomar College, or another California campus should begin with their school’s counseling center, student health office, or student support services.
Processes vary by campus and insurance plan. Students should ask:
Does the campus provide ongoing or brief counseling?
Is a referral required to use student health insurance off campus?
Is there a case manager who can help locate a provider?
Are telehealth, group therapy, or after-hours services available?
What documentation is required for academic accommodations?
When Off-Campus Therapy May Be Helpful
Campus counseling centers provide important support, but off-campus treatment may be more appropriate when a student is seeking:
Ongoing or longer-term therapy
Weekly care over multiple semesters
A particular specialty or treatment method
Greater appointment flexibility
Continuity during school breaks or after graduation
Psychological testing for ADHD, autism, learning concerns, or diagnostic clarification
Couples or family therapy
A provider who participates with the student’s insurance
Care that is separate from the university setting
Seeking off-campus therapy does not mean campus services have failed. Campus and community providers often serve complementary roles.
Using Insurance for Off-Campus Care
Before scheduling, students should contact their insurance plan or review their online member portal.
Useful questions include:
Is outpatient mental health treatment covered?
Do I need a referral or prior authorization?
What is my copayment, coinsurance, or deductible?
Is the provider in network?
Are telehealth appointments covered?
Are psychological testing and therapy subject to different benefits?
Does my student health plan require me to begin with campus health services?
Students covered through a parent or partner should also consider whether insurance communications, such as explanation-of-benefits notices, are sent to the policyholder.
A provider may be able to check benefits, but benefit verification is not a guarantee of payment. Students should confirm coverage directly with their insurance plan whenever possible.
Therapy During Major Transitions
Students often seek therapy during periods when familiar routines, relationships, or identities are changing.
Common transition points include:
Beginning college
Moving away from home
Transferring schools
Returning after a leave
Changing majors
Entering graduate or professional school
Balancing employment and school
Ending or beginning important relationships
Preparing to graduate
Moving into an uncertain job market
Returning home after college
Therapy can provide a consistent place to understand these changes, develop practical coping strategies, examine expectations, and make decisions without turning every session into another performance to manage.
A Clinician Who Works With Students in Transition
Joel “JJ” Williamson, APCC, works with teens and adults navigating anxiety, trauma, mood concerns, academic and relationship stress, and major life transitions.
His approach combines evidence-based therapy with practical skill-building, accountability, and attention to the challenges clients are managing in daily life. This can be particularly relevant for students adjusting to increased independence, changing relationships, academic pressure, graduation, or the transition into adult work and family roles.
JJ is an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor practicing under the clinical supervision of Kathryn Wiens, Psy.D.
Psychological Testing for College Students
Some students seek therapy because they feel overwhelmed. Others are looking for a clearer explanation of difficulties that have been present for years.
Psychological testing may help evaluate concerns involving:
ADHD
Autism
Learning differences
Executive functioning
Anxiety or mood symptoms
Trauma
Diagnostic uncertainty
Patterns affecting academic or daily functioning
Before scheduling an evaluation for accommodation purposes, students should contact their campus disability or accessibility office. Each institution may have specific requirements regarding documentation, testing measures, clinician qualifications, and how recently an evaluation must have been completed.
A diagnosis does not automatically determine accommodations. The university or college generally makes that decision through its established accessibility process.
Choosing an Off-Campus Therapist
A therapist does not need to have attended the same university to understand student life. They should, however, understand the developmental, academic, cultural, financial, and relational pressures students may be carrying.
During an initial consultation, students may want to ask:
Do you regularly work with college or graduate students?
How do you approach anxiety, trauma, ADHD, identity, or life transitions?
What happens during the first few sessions?
How often do you usually meet with students?
Do you offer in-person, telehealth, or hybrid care?
What insurance plans do you accept?
How do you handle care during school breaks or relocation?
Are you able to coordinate with campus providers when authorized?
If you are an associate clinician, who provides your supervision?
The first appointment is also an opportunity to evaluate fit. Students should feel able to ask questions, provide feedback, and understand how the therapist recommends approaching treatment.
There Is No Wrong Door
Some students begin with a campus counselor. Others contact an off-campus therapist, speak with a primary care provider, attend a support group, or ask a trusted professor, advisor, coach, resident assistant, or family member for help.
The important step is beginning somewhere.
Support does not require a perfect explanation, a formal diagnosis, or a crisis. A student can start with a simple statement:
“I have not been feeling like myself, and I think I need some help figuring out what comes next.”
Immediate and Crisis Support
This article is intended for general information and is not a crisis service.
For immediate danger or a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Students may also call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Campus counseling centers generally provide urgent or after-hours instructions on their websites and main phone lines.
Information Disclaimer: University services, referral procedures, insurance requirements, contact information, and program availability may change. This article is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current policies. Students should verify all information directly with their school, insurance plan, and prospective provider before making care or coverage decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I start with my campus counseling center or an off-campus therapist?
A campus counseling center is often a good first step, especially for brief support, urgent concerns, workshops, or help understanding available resources. Off-campus therapy may be a better fit for longer-term care, specialized treatment, greater scheduling flexibility, or continuity during breaks and after graduation.
Can college students use insurance for off-campus therapy?
Often, yes. Coverage depends on the student’s insurance plan. Some student health plans require a referral from the campus counseling or health center before off-campus services are covered. Students should confirm network status, copays, deductibles, referral requirements, and telehealth coverage directly with their plan.
When should a student consider psychological testing?
Testing may be helpful when a student is experiencing ongoing concerns involving attention, executive functioning, learning, autism, mood, anxiety, trauma, or diagnostic uncertainty. Students seeking academic accommodations should review their school’s documentation requirements before beginning an evaluation.
Is telehealth available for students attending college away from home?
Students may generally receive telehealth therapy while physically located in a state where their provider is authorized to practice. Golden Hour Psychology provides telehealth to clients located throughout California, including students attending UC, CSU, private university, and community college campuses.
What if I am not sure what kind of support I need?
You do not need to know whether you need therapy, testing, campus support, or another service before reaching out. A campus counselor, community therapist, primary care provider, or intake team can help clarify the concern and recommend an appropriate next step.
Do I need to be in crisis to seek therapy?
No. Students often begin therapy for academic stress, anxiety, relationships, identity, ADHD, burnout, transitions, or simply because they do not feel like themselves. Seeking support early may help prevent concerns from becoming more disruptive.